The Cadillac ELR is a compact plug-in hybrid luxury coupe developed and manufactured by General Motors. The Cadillac ELR powertrain is a re-tuned used in the Chevrolet Volt version. Battery 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery delivers Cadillac ELR electric range of 37 miles (60 km) and a top speed of 106 mph (171 km / h). Deliveries to retail customers in the United States and Canada began in December 2013. General Motors debuted the concept car that would become the ELR, the Cadillac Converj at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. The production version was released four years later at the 2013 North American International Auto Show.

Cadillac ELR Development

General Motors Cadillac Converj concept debuted the car that eventually became the 2014 Cadillac ELR, in January 2009 at the North American International Auto Show. In April 2009 Motor Trend reported that General Motors had approved the production version of the Cadillac Converj in 2011 as a 2012 model year vehicle. However, GM refuted the report and stated that the Converj was “a concept vehicle subjected to criticism.” A report by BusinessWeek August 2009 stated that the GM vice president Robert Lutz wanted to see the Converj going to production, possibly as early as 2014, and reported that while the speech opening the 46th annual Northwood Auto Show Lutz “gave suggests that an ad in production for the Cadillac Converj concept car well received may be imminent.

In 2010 North American International Auto Show, Lutz told the Society of Automotive Analysts “The Cadillac Converj is cleared for production,” but not going to be next year or the year after that. Despite these statements, in March 2010, the Bloomberg BusinessWeek reported that GM decided to finish work on the Converj, because Cadillac Converj “could not have enough facilities and electric stove to be convincing buyers and produce a profit.”

General Motors reversed its decision to cancel the project in August 2011 and announced that the Converj concept would go into production as the Cadillac ELR at a lower price to the US $ 57,400 Tesla Model S, but gave no details about the performance or timing. General Motors said the ELR would be about the same size as the Chevrolet Volt and produced in the same facility. In the context of vehicle electrification strategy of GM, Cadillac ELR is after the Chevrolet Volt and Spark EV EREV third passenger car electrically powered by General Motors in the US from the EV1 was interrupted: Unlike the protagonists pure EV battery, such as Tesla Motors, GM focuses to implement far-reaching in extended-range EV technology. General Motors began testing prototypes Cadillac ELR in mid 2012. The production version was presented at the 2013 North American International Auto Show.

Cadillac ELR Specification

The Cadillac ELR is built on the GM Delta II platform and incorporates a version of the Voltec propulsion system used in the Chevrolet Volt. The Voltec propulsion system includes an electric motor of 119-135 kW, a motor-generator four-cylinder and a battery pack lithium ion 16.5 kWh. The ELR has an official electric range of 37 miles (60 km) and a total range of 340 miles (550 km), as classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Load times are 12.5-18 hours using the travel charger 120V, and about 5 hours using a charging station 240 volts. The maximum speed is 106 mph (171 km / h) and accelerates from 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds in extended-range mode. The 2016 model year Cadillac ELR is scheduled to be presented at the November 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. 2016 ELR have several engineering improvements, but no details have been announced by Cadillac.

Cadillac ELR Fuel Economy

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially classified year fuel economy in city / highway combined ELR 2014 model all-electric mode at 82 miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent (MPG-e) (2.9 L equivalent petrol / 100 km; 98 imp MPG gasoline equivalent). This rating considers a conversion factor of 33.7 kWh of electricity is equivalent to a gallon of gasoline energy, and the ELR has a rate of power consumption of 41 kWh / 100km of driving combined city / highway. The EPA rating mode only gasoline is 33 miles per gallon in the US for combined driving. The 2014 Volt has rating of 37 mpg-US foline equivalent). This rating consifor gasoline mode only and fuel economy in all-electric mode for 98 MPG-e. The Cadillac ELR has more power than the Volt, but is 300 pounds fMarch 2010, Bloomberg BusinessWeek heavier.

Cadillac ELR Operating Modes

The Cadillac ELR is a traditional gear lever (PRNDL) with a button to select one of four driving modes: Tour, Hold, mountain and the Sport. Tour Mode is the default setting and the ELR will operate in all-electric mode (EV mode) as a pure electric car until the battery is fully discharged. The tour mode provides maximum efficiency of the propulsion system and a minimum level of vibration. Hold Mode allows the driver to store the energy currently stored in the battery for later use, like us traveling in urban areas.

Mode Mountain was designed to provide more power in mountainous environments increasing state minimum battery charge (SOC) on drums so that their power is always available, and to direct the system to use the gasoline engine, so to maintain outstanding performance and long slopes. This mode is also useful when the driver wants to drive in EV mode at the end of a long road trip. The Sport mode enhances throttle response and improved feedback to the steering and suspension settings more aggressive. The ELR has paddles on the back of the steering wheel by its unique feature “Regen lawsuit over”. Both blades are held to activate the aggressive regenerative braking, slowing the vehicle and simultaneously sends power to the battery charging.

Cadillac ELR Production and Sales

In October 2012, General Motors announced that the Cadillac ELR will be assembled at the assembly plant in Detroit Hamtramck, where the similar Chevrolet Volt, Opel Ampera and Holden Volt are also assembled. The addition of the Cadillac ELR to the plant represents a US $35 million additional investment, bringing the total investment in plant products in the US $561 million since December 2009.

General Motors began assembling pre-production vehicles to be used for testing in late May 2013. The production of vehicles for retail customers began in December 2013. The delivery to dealers DETROIT Assembly Hamtramck began on December 20, 2013, and although smaller deliveries were scheduled to begin in January 2014, the first 10 units were delivered in December 2013, six of the US and four in Canada. In August 2014, cumulative sales totaled 812 units, 780 in the US market, and 32 units in Canada.

In the United States 2014 Cadillac ELR has a base price of US $75,995, including $995 destination charge, but excludes applicable government incentives. Although not specified a timeline, ELR GM plans to expand distribution to global markets, including China and Europe.

Cadillac ELR Awards and Recognition

In 2009, the Converj concept was awarded “Best Vehicle Concept” in the eyes of Design Awards, “Most Significant Concept Vehicle of 2009” in the North American Concept Vehicle of the Year Awards and “Specialty Concept Vehicle of the Year “by the Southeast Automotive Media Organization. In 2012, Green Car Journal ELR selected as one of five finalists in the Green Car Vision Awards. In 2013, the Cadillac ELR was awarded “Best Production Vehicle” in the eyes on design awards.